Lyne is a Scottish habitational surname, deriving from any of several minor places of that name in Scotland. The most notable is the small settlement west of Peebles in the Scottish Borders council area (OS grid ref NT2040). As an English surname, it is also a spelling variant of the surnames Lind and Line, while in an Irish context it may be a variant of Lane.
The name Lyne may trace its origin to a topographic name for someone who lived near a lime tree (from Old English lind) or near a stream (from Old English lyn). Alternatively, the Scottish place name Lyne may be of Goidelic origin, from linn meaning 'pool' or 'lake'. This etymological uncertainty is common for place names that have been subject to multiple linguistic influences over centuries.
Historical records show the surname Lyne appearing in Scotland from the 13th century onwards. The name is also present in England, particularly in Surrey where is a village named Lyne. Additionally, Lyne is used as a given name, though less commonly, and there is an electoral division named Lyne in New South Wales, Australia.
- Meaning: Habitational name from places called Lyne in Scotland
- Origin: Scottish, English, Irish
- Type: Surname, also used as a feminine given name
- Usage Regions: Scotland, England, Ireland, Australia
Sources: Wiktionary — Lyne